Italian Greyhound

Not to be confused with their slightly larger cousins, the Whippet, Italian Greyhounds are the miniature versions of the classic Greyhound. As the Greyhound’s toy breed, they share many qualities beyond looks. Lean, lanky, and elegant, the Italian Greyhound loves to run and play, but is also extremely delicate and sensitive. Bred for thousands of years, historians are unsure about whether they were initially intended for hunting or for companionship, as they are so good at both. They are also perfectly at home in urban and suburban environments.

With their intelligent and affectionate nature, they’re the ideal blend of playful and snuggly, making them great family dogs. These sweeties strongly crave human companionship and bonding. Likely, they’ll want to be in your lap or in your bed if you’re spending some quality time relaxing. Because of their small stature, Italian Greyhounds can be a bit skittish, so they’ll need some time to warm up to strangers, which is ironic because these beauties attract a lot of attention in public with their shiny cream, fawn, blue, red, white, or black coat that feels like satin!  With a body that has a low fat density, Italian Greyhounds need warm clothes in cold weather. What can we say? They’re stylish! 

Did you know?

Prized in the 16th century Italian royal court, Italian Greyhounds have been portrayed in paintings by Hieronymus Bosch, Giotto, and Caravaggio.